PIA Press Release2010/07/06

Gov Cagas vows graft-free administration

Davao City (6 July) -- Adhering to the call of President Benigno Aquino III to fight graft and corruption, Governor Douglas Cagas of Davao del Sur province has vowed of a graft-free administration before his constituents during the inaugural rites on Friday (July 2) in Digos City.

Borrowing from P-NOY's slogan "Kung Walang Korupt, Walang Mahirap," the governor has assured the people in the province of good governance, transparency and graft-free administration in the interest of the public.

Nilda Aniņon, the province's public relation officer II, told PIA that Cagas has made the assurance after he took oath as governor before Judge Carmelita Sarno-Davin, executive judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 19 in Digos City.

Aniņon said that the governor, addressing to a 5,000 audience, also stressed to continue and improve his program on I-HELP which stands for infrastructures, health, education, livelihood and peace and order which he started in 2007.

For his second term, Cagas intends to expand I-HELP into I-HELP Plus, Plus, Plus to include other programs like tourism, agriculture and barangay site for housing as part of his priorities in the province, Aniņon stated.

According to Aniņon, Cagas is determined to make the province of Davao del Sur an agro-industrial, commercial and eco-tourism area in the country.

"We have to continue dreaming and make our dream a reality. Dream while you are awake so you can reach out to reality," Aniņon quoted the governor as saying.

Meanwhile, Aniņon also mentioned that Vice-governor Arsenio Latasa has pledged to "commit and give unconditional support and cooperation" to the governor's administration.

She quoted Latasa as saying in his speech "we assure you that no one in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan will ever block nor do bickering. I will be your servant and will always be a supporter of Gov. Cagas." Latasa has been mayor of Digos City for 18 years.

Aniņon said that Latasa along with Cagas, 1st District Congressman Marc Douglas Cagas IV and members of the provincial board, also took oath before Judge Sarno-Davin on July 2 at the province's Sports Complex, Cultural and Business Center which is about to be completed yet.

The board members for the first district who took oath were Senior Board Member Mercedes Cagas, Nonito Llanos III, Aileen Almendras, Ricardo Molina, Jr. and Dr. Marvin Manos.